Chrissie
I just listened to the podcast on the iPlayer. What did Eddie Mair make of it all?
Your story was a sad one and I hope it has a happier ending but it sounds like you are finally going the way you need to go.
I recognised some of Penny's comments (and yours) about waiting until chlidren were older and until family responsibilities where out of the way because that explains my view as well. In my dreams I've always been female but having a close family has always made it difficult for me to "break out". I tried as a young teenager and my mother and I had some difficult conversations in which we never quite crossed the line or blurted out the truth that would have changed everything. I remember one conversation with her where I think she was going to ask me to dress but all she said was "Would it help if..... would you like to ..... what I mean is...." and then she fell silent. I remember it so clearly, where she was sitting, were I was sitting, the lighting, the room, everything. I was certain that she knew but that until she admitted it in words then it did not exist. She did not attempt to restate her suggestion, but got up and left. It was never mentioned again and I often wonder what my life would have been like if she had said those fatal words "Would you like to wear a dress right now?" Would I have said "yes". Would I have chickened out? I don't know - I was only 14 and not exactly brimming with confidence.
Now I'm in my 40s and I have a wife and kids who accept me although they repeatedly tell me that my behaviour makes no d*mn sense. They bought me two dresses and a satin nightie for Xmas and now I've started NBE. Will I go further? I don't know. I would like to go all the way but they are all so precious to me that I won't risk losing them. I'm partway there and if NBE works I'll be halfway there. That's a hell of a lot better than I ever expected.
Thanks for telling your story.
Beverley